MPs should keep national interest in mind: Mahajan

New Delhi: Parliament should be known for holding healthy discussions and debates like earlier, new Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said on Friday and appealed to members for their cooperation in running the Lower House in an orderly manner.

Addressing the Lok Sabha after her unanimous election, the eight-time Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Indore also said that MPs should keep the national interest in mind while raising issues related to their region.

"I appeal to everyone to hold discussions in a calm manner... Our parliament was known for good discussions. We have strayed from that, healthy discussions should be the norm now," she said.

"The Lok Sabha is a sign of our diversity and unity, and emblem of our national sentiments. We can't dwell on our regional sentiment and must keep national sentiments in mind,” she added.

Mahajan was today unanimously elected Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha, becoming the second woman presiding officer of the Lower House after her predecessor Meira Kumar.

71-year-old Mahajan, the longest-serving woman MP, was elected after a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani was adopted by voice vote called by Protem Speaker Kamal Nath.